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Meaning & use

entrance

noun, verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈentrəns/
US/ˈɛntrəns/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A door, gate or opening that you pass through to get into a place.

    Grammar: Often followed by to or of: the entrance to the park.

    Patterns

    • the entrance to something
    • the entrance of something

    The main entrance to the museum is on the north side.

    Wait for me at the entrance to the station.

    There is a side entrance for deliveries.

  2. nouncountable

    The act of coming or going in, especially in a way that attracts attention.

    Grammar: Often with make: make an entrance. Used for people on stage or in a room.

    Patterns

    • make an entrance
    • someone's entrance

    The bride made a dramatic entrance down the stairs.

    The actor's entrance drew a round of applause.

    Her entrance into the room silenced everyone.

  3. noununcountable

    The right or chance to join an institution or group.

    Grammar: Often used with exam, fee or requirements: an entrance exam.

    Patterns

    • entrance to something
    • gain entrance to something

    She won entrance to a top university.

    Entrance is free for children under twelve.

    He was refused entrance to the club.

  4. verbtransitiveformal

    To fill someone with wonder or delight so that they cannot look away.

    Grammar: Pronounced with stress on the second syllable, /ɪnˈtrɑːns/ in British English and /ɪnˈtræns/ in American English; usually passive.

    Patterns

    • entrance someone
    • be entranced by something

    The magician entranced the children with a single trick.

    We were entranced by the view from the hilltop.

    The music entranced the whole audience.

Word forms

pluralentrances
third person singular (verb)entrances
past tense (verb)entranced
-ing form (verb)entrancing

Common combinations

main entrance
Meet me at the main entrance.
make an entrance
She likes to make an entrance at parties.
entrance fee
The entrance fee is five dollars.
entrance exam
He passed the entrance exam with high marks.
front entrance
The front entrance was blocked by snow.
gain entrance
Thieves gained entrance through a back window.

Synonyms and how they differ

entry
Entry is wider and can mean the act of entering or the right to enter, while entrance often means the physical opening.
doorway
Doorway names the opening of a door only, while entrance can also be a gate or passage.
access
Access means the ability or right to reach something, and not the opening itself.
gateway
Gateway suggests a large or symbolic entrance, such as to a city.

Opposites

exit

Word family

enter verb
to go into a place
entry noun
the act or right of entering
entranced adjective
delighted and unable to look away
entrant noun
a person who enters a competition

Commonly confused: entrance or entry?

entrance vs entry

Entrance is mostly the place where you enter, while entry is the act of entering or an item entered in a list or competition.

Practice

Which spelling is correct for the door you walk through to get into a building?

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